Pop Culture Collectibles To Be On Sale At Fall Con

September 13, 2003|By Peter Bernard Staff Writer

Still searching for that box full of old toys and comic books that your mom threw out 10 years ago and never had the heart to tell you about?

Well, not to worry. Pop culture treasures, old and new, will be for sale today and Sunday at the South Florida Fall Con, a comic book and collectibles show that will feature some rare items, says show promoter Charles Cerrito.

"I guarantee there will be comics and collectibles at this show that have rarely, if ever, been seen in public before," Cerrito said. He expects a crowd of about 1,000 people to attend the two-day event.

Among the items Cerrito hopes will draw crowds to the Pompano Beach Civic Center is a Batman No. 1 comic in good condition, worth an estimated $6,000, and a family photo album with about 30 photos of The Beatles that have never been displayed in public.

"People of all ages like to come to these shows," Cerrito said. "The kids and the teenagers come for Spider-Man and the X-Men, and adults come for sci-fi or comics and toys they had when they were kids."

About 30 vendors will buy and sell collectibles, including comic books, toys, nonsports trading cards and original artwork.

Cerrito says people should never throw anything out until they know how much it's worth.

"People have been putting their `junk' up on auction on eBay and making some serious money," Cerrito said.

In addition to the items for sale, the Con will have guests such as actor Hank Garrett from Car 54, Where Are You?; artist Mart Nodell, creator of the Green Lantern and the Pillsbury Doughboy; and Dick Kulpa, the publisher of Cracked magazine.

Kulpa, also an artist for the newly retooled Cracked, will teach children how to draw superheroes from 2 to 3 p.m. both days.